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Jan. 10 I 4 J. A. RIC RDS ABLE TABLE Filed Dec. 28, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 l Him I6 1' si- /2 4 x I I 1 Egg.-

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Jan. 10, 1928. J. A. RICHARDS ADJUSTABLE TABLE d Dec. 28. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inuqmfov JmxwsAJY-mhms Patented Jan. 10,1928. I

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JAMES A. RICHARDS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOB T0 GUIIN FURNI- TUBE COMPANY, OF GBAIND'R-APIDS, MICHIGAN, AECORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

nioausrannn TABLE.

Application filed December 28, 1925. Serial No. 77,929.

This invention relates to an adjustable table wherein a top hinged adjacent one edge to an underframe for the t-ablemay be adjusted or tilted to difierentangular positions.

It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to provide means for of fecting this adjustment and for holding the table top securely in any position to which it may be adjusted, together with means for readily andeasily releasing the top so that it may be returned to normal horizontal position, this, without doing more than engaging the edge of the table top opposite that adjacent which it is hinged and movingit up and down iiraccordance with the law governing the mechanism which I have pro- 7 duced for this purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide adjusting devices for the tilting table top which are simple in construction, readily and easily made and assembled and which are very durable and eihcient in service; and to further provide means to insure that they will operate at all times irrespective of how rapidlyor' roughly the table top is manually operated to effect a change in position.

To these ends the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawingsjhas been produced, in which drawings,"

Fig. -1'is a transverse vertical section through the upper partof a table made 1n accordance with my invention, the topbeing shown tilted at an angle to the horizontal.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary Vertical section substantiallyon the 'planeof line 22 of Fig. 1 and looking in the directionv i ner side of its adjacent end 3 of the table indicated by the arrow. 7

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged perspective View ofthe tilting mechanism, two of which are interposed between the table top and frame, the View of said mechanism being taken from an outer side thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section'onj the plane of line l-4: of Fig. 2, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, the top being in lower horizontal position.

Fig. 5is a likexview with the top tilted to an intermediate position between its horizontal position, and tion. a

Fig. 6 is a similar View and section show ing the top'raised to its highest point andabove any point at which it may be held in tilted position, this being an operation which is performed when it is ClGSIIGd'lLO its extreme tilted posi-- change from any tilted position back to lower horizontal position, and, 1

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view showing the top approaching lower horizontal position when it has been changed from any tilted position back to horizontal position.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures in the drawings.

The table is supported by the legs 1 secured to the corners of alower supporting frame having spaced apart parallel sides 2 andspaced apart parallel ends 3. The top 4 1s hingedly connected at 5 to one side of the a shallow recess 6 covering'the major portion of its under side, there being downwardframe and adjacent one side edge of the top. This top on its under side is formed to have ly extending flanges of shallow depth at' each side and end of the top, as shown, which are around the recess 6. 'Connected to the inner side of each end 3 of the frame and toward the side 2 of the frame opposite that at which the top is hinged, is a metal stirrup 7 and a short distance below this stirrup a pin 8 is secured to each end 3, the same projecting inwardly for afshort distance.

The adjusting and supporting devices for the table top, of which there are two, each in- I I clu'de a bar 9. of flat metal at the lower end" of which a flange or lip lOis turned inwardly at'right angles. A screw 11 passes through the upper end of the bar 9 and into the downwardlyextending flange of the top 10- catedaround the recess 6, and a spacing col-, 'lar 12 is placed around this screw so as to space the bar 9 a short distance from the insupporting frame.

Connected to and spaced apart from the bar9 is a ratchet bar 13. This is located outside of the bar 9 in parallelism therewith and connected thereto by suitable rivets or studs 1i onwhich the necessary spacing.

sleeves orcollars are located. 1 The bar. 13 is 'locatedyery close to the inner sideofthe adjacent end 3 of the table'supporting frame" andat its upper end terminates a distance short ofthe upper end of bar 9 so that its upperend is located, when the table top is in horizontal position, below the adjacent ilU A member 19 of flat metal is suspended. from each screw 11, .the 'screw passing through the upper end of the member and said member lying in a plane between the planes of bars 9 and 13 so that the lower portion of the member may pass-between the said bars. This member 19 is verticallyslotted as indicated at 20 from its lower endupwardly for a distance to provide two depending fingers 21 and 22 the latter of which at its lower portion andat its inner ed e has a.

,J- portion cut away and is formed; with a curved edge 23 asbest shown in Fig. 3.

of the table is grasped toelevate the same to apositionsuch as shown in Fig. 1 01 Fig.

5, bfars 9 and 13 at each side of the table are elevated and the curved ends .15 of the-said bars.13 come against the pins 8.

bars 9 and 13to swingto the left (referring to Fig.4), so that bars 18 may pass by the pin s. 8 untilithefirst notch 18 is. reached;

and.;.if a continued upward movement is given to thetable top,.the notches 18 will successively pass by the pins 8 until a desired point is reached, .whereupon thepins willengage in certain notches 8, as shown in Fig; 5, thereby holding the, top in an elevated and tilted position. The. tendency of the-fixtures is to swing on the axis of screws 11 to. a. vertical position so, that this insures theqproper engagement of the pins 8 in the. notches ofthebarslll The table is thus securely heldand supported in upper tilted position andl wilh remain in such position unt'iLitis either. further. elevated to sue-, ceedingnotches or. isoperated toreturn it to.

lower position.

In ftheoperation of returning the top to lowen horizontal position, the free side edge of thetable must .be' grasped and the same 1ifte' d to its extreme upper position shownin Big. 6. The bars 9 and 13. extending downwardly through the stirrup 7 serve to stopthe upwardpelevationof the top. inthe position shown in Fig. 6, by reason of engagement of thelipslO on bars Qagainst theiunder edges of the stir-raps 7 As soon as the lower. ends ofbarslS pass by the pins 8 the bars. will'swingso as to assume vertical p,osition,.as shown 1n Fig. 6, and so that the1pin'8 willibe against the smoothedge of v tl1e. bar 13 instead; of engaging withthe ratchetor notched edge thereofwhen the .top is lowered. That is, with thelowering of thetop from the position shown in Fig. 6

to that, shown in Fig. 7 thebars-13'willride against the pins 8: at their smooth edges until the upper ends of said bars are reached whereupon the fixture will swing from the position shown in Fig. 7 to that shown in a.

tt will be noted that with this downward Vith the top. in lower horizontalposition. as shown in Fig. 41, when the tree side edge This causes. the attachment comprising the; connected movement of the top and attached supporting fixtures, the bars 9 and 13 swing a considerable distance to one side of the vertical naticiand sure at all times. Thatgpart of each-fingerfll cutaway therefrom at its lower end is removed to permit tl1e neces-.

sary'swinging-otthefixture as shown in Fig.

7 and; at. the same time leave an opening;

sufiicient. for the reception of the pins 8.

The. a construction disclosed. is relatively. simple, is sure and. automatic n its opera:

tion, isdurable and efiicient and has proved to be especially practical in act'uahoprm tion. Various, changes in minordetailof structure. may; be had without departing fromthe inventiondefined. in the appended claims, and'I consider myself entitled to all forms of structurewhich come within the scope oi said claims defin ng; themvention;

I claim 1. In combination, .in a table an undersup 4 porting frame, a tabletop hinged to said.

:t'rameadjacent oneof its edges, pins extend ngfinwardly from thefran e, a st1rrupattached to. the. frame above each pin, a bar, pivotallyjconnect-ed to the topat each endi thereof. and; extending downwardly through.-

each stirrup a, second bar havinga plural-1 ity of spaced apart ratchetiteethat one edge,

spacedfrom .anduconnected to the first barandfhaving its upper end located a distance.

from the upper end of. the firstbar, each of said se'condlra'tchet bars being located at the outer-side of its associated .fi'rst' bar; and

adapted to engagewith the-adj acent pin.,, 1

a 2. A. constructionjcontaining theelements .in combination defined. in claim. 1, each of' said. ratchet bars at its upper end; being curved downwardlyftoward said ratchet teeth and ,at its lower end being likewise curved downwardly toward said ratchet teeth, substantially fas and for purposes de-i scribed.

3..In a table, a, rectangular supporting frame, a table t'op;hingedly connected: a'dja-Y cent one side edge to the frame at one. side thereof, astirrupsecuredto. each'end' of the frame. and; near its upper edge'towardthe opposite; side of thetrame, a pinoonnected' vto each end of the frame a short distance,

below each stirrup, a fixture connected to and adjacent. each end of the table top, compris ingaflat bar pivotally; connected at its up-. per end ,to the top. and extending d'ownwardly through said stirrup,said bar at its lower end having an inturned lip, and a sec ond bar disposed at the outer side of the first bar spaced a short distance therefrom and rigidly connected thereto, said second bar at its inner edge being formed with a in combination defined in claim 1, combined a with a member suspendedatits upper end from the pivot which connects said first bar to the table top, said member lying in a plane between the first and second bars and being vertically slotted upwardly from its lower end to a point a distance above the 20 upper end of the second ratchet bar.

5. In combination, a table having an under frame and a top hinged at one edge to said under frame, a pin projecting from said under frame, and a ratchet bar having one smooth edge and one ratchet toothed edge, said ratchet bar being pivotally attached to said top and adapted to swing relative to said pin when the top is at its extreme upper or lower position to engage either one of said edges of the ratchet bar-with the pin,

- said pivotal connection being located so that gravity will swing the ratchet bar to engage its ratchet toothed ed'gewith the pin when the table is in its lowermost position and will swing the ratchet bar so that its smooth edge Will be engaged with the pin when the top is in its highest position.

In testimony whereof I aii'ix my signature.

JAMES A. RICHARDS. 

